| By: |
Francesco Cinnirella;
Naghavi,k Alireza;
Giovanni Prarolo |
| Abstract: |
This paper studies the impact of Muslim rule on human capital development.
Using a unique novel dataset containing yearly data on Muslim presence in the
period 711-1492 and literacy rate in 1900 for about 7500 municipalities in
Spain, we estimate the local impact of the length of Muslim rule in the
medieval period on literacy rate. Our findings reveal a very robust negative
relationship between length of Muslim rule and levels of human capital. This
result is robust to the inclusion of other possible confounding factors such
as the Reconquista and the Inquisition. We argue that the characteristics of
Islamic law discouraged the formation of a strong merchant class and
subsequently impeded the development of forms of local self-government. This
translated into lower levels of human capital for regions longer under Muslim
rule. Indeed, panel estimates on a sample of cities provide evidence that
locations under Muslim domination missed out on the critical junctures of
institutional changes which led to a stagnation in the accumulation of human
capital. |
| Keywords: |
muslim rule, education, literacy, self-government, merchant class, Spain |
| JEL: |
H75 I25 N33 O10 O30 Z12 |
| Date: |
2020 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8223&r=all |